March 5th, 2007:

Most of us wonder how pros fight anxiety or what is mostly called stagefreight. Your confidence carries your song, and so as your emotion. A single flaw on your expression ruins the whole performance.

It’s important to get your advice from the professionals. I asked few of my friends who worked in a band.

Jo: The problem with that is quite simple. It starts with the mind; starts with the performer himself. It’s not about the crowd, because the crowd won’t judge unless you sing. And most of us experience stagefreight even if we haven’t sung yet. The mind itself is a very stubborn thing. But we should take note that we are the one who controls our mind, it’s not our mind that’s controlling us. I got it from my grandpa’s statement: “Whatthe subconscious mind perceives to be the truth, becomes the truth.”

Joym:Anxiety itself is not an attitude, it’s a feeling (read that again). And just like any other feelings, it changed. Like how happiness turns to sadness or vice versa. You can fight anxiety by being positive. Anxiety is there even if your performance will be weeks later.It’s because you thought you couldn’t make it. And unfortunately, most of our thoughts come true.Anxiety itself is not an attitude, it’s a feeling (read that again). And just like any other feelings, it changed. Like how happiness turns to sadness or vice versa. You can fight anxiety by being positive. Anxiety is there even if your performance will be weeks later. It’s because you thought you couldn’t make it. And unfortunately, most of our thoughts come true.

Kath: Like businessmen, pros also need a mentor. If you can’t make it by your own, try to ask from a pro. Anxiety can’t just be treated by alcohol or drugs. Alcohol itself increases your anxiety by the way you depend on it. You don’t need to apply to therapies. Just take note, practice. If you want to sing well, practice singing. If you want to fight anxiety, fight it by singing infront of a crowd. That’s what I did before.

Those were the words from our pros. The word there is PRACTICE. Next week, I’ll post the Part II of my Be A Pro Kit. It will be about Songwriting. This is just the start of my Be A Pro Kit. See you next week for another lessons from our pros.